Meizu unveils Pro 6 Plus, goes back to Samsung hardware

To finish 2016 on a high note, Meizu took to Twitter to announce the Pro 6 Plus, a refresh of its flagship smartphone that features some savvy new specs. Housing a bigger, 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 AMOLED display, the handset is powered by the Samsung Exynos 8890 chipset, the same unit that drives the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, rather than a MediaTek chip. There are 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage.

The smartphone also offers a fingerprint sensor, a heart-rate monitor, and 3D Touch technology. There's a 12MP camera on its back, which utilizes the Sony IMX386 CMOS sensor that Meizu previously used in the MX6 smartphone. This time, though, the camera module is paired with Samsung's image signal processor and optical image stabilization system, which ought to provide better-looking photos. Hi-Fi audio, global LTE support (with the likely exception of the United States), and USB Type-C connectivity complete the configuration.

Powered by a 3400mAh battery with fast charging that takes it to 60% in half an hour, the 0.29in (7.3mm)-thin Meizu Pro 6 Plus introduces Flyme OS 6, the newest version of the handset maker's Android platform. Built on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, it boasts a new artificial intelligence engine called "One Mind." Another new software addition is an Always-on Display feature.

The Meizu Pro 6 Plus costs about $435 (CNY 3000) in its Chinese land of origin. The handset will be sold in Gray, Silver and Gold. Though it won'be available globally, the Pro 6 Plus will probably make it to stores in Europe and Russia as well. The Samsung modem makes it a safe buy for these parts of the world, although reliable warranty and customer support will be up to the reseller.